AUGUST 8, 2019 - No. 063 In This Issue Aircraft Engineers International Calls on EU Commission and EASA to Tighten Aircraft Safety Oversight Expanding Atlantic Aviation Adds Boeing 767 CAMO Approvals Boeing 787 On-Board Network Vulnerable to Remote Hacking, Researcher Says Sky's the Limit: Semmco Wins Contract with JetBlue Airways Airbus Helicopters opens completion and delivery centre in Malaysia New Advanced-Technology Diesel Engines Playing Greater Role in General, Business Aviation Ground Service Equipment and Fixed Base Operations Republic Airways Expands Operations With Delta Air Lines Industry remains optimistic about the future of LABACE Frontier Airlines Operates America's Greenest Flight Corrosion alert follows improper A340 centre-gear overhaul SpaceX Says It Will Offer Regular Rideshare Missions To Space For Small Satellites Aircraft Engineers International Calls on EU Commission and EASA to Tighten Aircraft Safety Oversight In a March interview carried in German newspaper Die Welt, Markus Ferber MEP said: "An aviation safety authority that classifies a software error as a risk, only after two aircraft have already crashed, poses itself a risk to its citizens."[1] LEIMUIDEN, Netherlands, Aug. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Union Safety Agency has recently issued five requirements to be fulfilled before Boeing 737 Max aircraft can fly again in Europe. However, Aircraft Engineers International (AEI) emphasizes that aircraft safety should be proactive; pointing out that it has previously advised the agency of other regulatory areas that require attention. Some EU member states allow procedures where technical maintenance on vital aircraft systems are not verified by a licensed aircraft engineer even though the EU regulation requires it: In 2015, AEI informed EASA that it believed aircraft were being routinely released to service in Germany without undergoing the requisite inspections. An EASA audit which followed of the national civil aviation authority of Germany, the Luftfahrt Bundesamt (LBA), confirmed this, highlighting concerns with the Certificate of Release to Service (CRS). The auditors concluded that "Release to Service (CRS), is not compliant and is unclear; it e.g. allows the release to service of line maintenance tasks without verification (by a properly qualified and rated Certifying Staff) but based on an administrative check only". AEI has repeatedly informed both EASA and the EU that it feels there are weaknesses in the LBA's oversight system and this situation, should it be allowed to continue, places EU citizens at unnecessary risk. Head of EASA Patrick Ky stated during a Norwegian conference (30th January 2019) that EASA's safety standards were not uniformly interpreted in Europe. The EU has stated both they and EASA are confident that the release to service process is well understood throughout Europe even though the LBA has stated in writing that it will decide which EASA policies it will implement; the certificate of release to service procedure, not being one of them. "How did EASA manage to close the audit findings?" questions AEI President Ola Blomqvist. "It is not possible to be compliant with EU regulations without strictly adhering to the EASA regulation and their own clarifying policy on release to service, which Germany refuses to implement." Aircraft Engineers International calls on EASA to ensure that its own rules are strictly enforced, that all audit reports are dealt with promptly, and that "release to service" verification requirements are uniformly understood throughout Europe. The grounding of the Boeing 737 Max fleet post-accident rather than pre, highlights that effective regulatory oversight is a prerequisite for safe flying. About AEI: Aircraft Engineers International (AEI) was formed in 1971 and represents the collective interests of over 30,000 Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers in over 30 countries. The AEI mission is to be the global voice of Licensed Aircraft Engineers by providing representation and support in order to promote the highest levels of aviation safety and maintenance standards worldwide. www.airengineers.org References: [1]Markus Ferber MEP (Die Welt interview 20.03.2019) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/aircraft-engineers-international-calls-eu-commission-easa-tighten-132100617.html Back to Top Expanding Atlantic Aviation Adds Boeing 767 CAMO Approvals Atlantic Aviation Group has added Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) approvals from two industry regulators related to the Boeing 767 aircraft. The certifications from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) will enable Atlantic Aviation's CAMO and Technical Services department to commence services for the 767-200 and 300 variants of the widebody aircraft. This will entail the company helping aircraft operators keeping assets airworthy by aiding inspection management and handling the associated paperwork to ensure regulatory requirements are met for the 767. While the 767 program is expected to contract in terms of fleet growth over the next decade, Aviation Week's 2019 Fleet & MRO Forecast data estimates it will generate an MRO spend of $23.5 billion from now through 2028. Atlantic Aviation's latest approvals follow the addition of other CAMO-related certifications acquired over the past year. In June 2018, the MRO provider obtained Part M Subpart G and I approval for the Airbus A320 family by the IAA. Following this at the end of the year, it was awarded ATR 42/72 approval by the same regulator. The new approval follows on from the company expanding its CAMO and technical services offices near Shannon Airport in the West of Ireland. Along with its facilities, Atlantic Aviation has also grown its workforce by around 300% in the past 12 months alone, including the appointment of Graeme Robertson as its new director of maintenance. As of August 2019, it employs 250 staff at its two Shannon facilities. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/expanding-atlantic-aviation-adds-boeing-767-camo-approvals Back to Top Boeing 787 On-Board Network Vulnerable to Remote Hacking, Researcher Says Boeing disputes IOActive findings ahead of security firm's Black Hat USA presentation. BLACK HAT USA - Las Vegas - IOActive industrial cybersecurity expert Ruben Santamarta last fall discovered an Internet-exposed Boeing Co. server housing firmware specifications for the aviation manufacturer's 787 and 737 airplane networks. Intrigued, Santamarta dug into the firmware for the 787, Boeing's highly networked plane. He meticulously reverse-engineered the binary code and analyzed configuration files - uncovering multiple security vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to remotely gain access to the sensitive avionics network of the aircraft, also known as the crew information systems network. "It turns out the firmware I was analyzing is part of the aircraft that is segregating between the different networks," he told Dark Reading prior to publicly disclosing his findings here today. The firmware belongs to a core network component in the 787's network and was riddled with buffer overflow, memory corruption, stack overflows, and denial-of-service flaws that he says could be exploited by a hacker to remotely reach the aircraft's sensitive crew information systems network module. The flawed firmware Santamarta found, a VxWorks-based system from Honeywell known as the 787's Crew Information System File Server/Maintenance System Module could be abused by a remote attacker who could then wrest control of that system, according to Santamarta's findings. But Boeing maintains that its network defenses would thwart the attack cases IOActive is presenting, arguing that an attacker couldn't reach its avionics systems via these methods. "IOActive's scenarios cannot affect any critical or essential airplane system and do not describe a way for remote attackers to access important 787 systems like the avionics system," a Boeing spokesperson said. "After working with IOActive to understand its research, Boeing and its partners tested their findings in integrated environments, both in labs and on an airplane. Our extensive testing confirmed that existing defenses in the broader 787 network prevent the scenarios claimed." IOActive, meanwhile, says Boeing is mischaracterizing the research and contents of Santamarta's findings. "We have and will very clearly state the limitations of our purview in this research. We believe these limitations are clearly described in our white paper at a level even a layperson is able to comprehend," says John Sheehy, director of strategic security services at IOActive. Santamarta conducted his research in a lab setting and notes that the ultimate effect on the avionics system is unclear without access to an actual 787 aircraft. Even so, he says, an attacker exploiting the firmware could bypass security controls on the network and reach the avionics network. He or she then could attempt to update firmware of avionics systems, for instance, he says. "We don't know if those [avionics] units are encrypted or [digitally] signed or how those units are verified, so I don't know if you can really affect the functionality or state of those critical units," he says. "We don't know what can be done after that because we don't have the avionics hardware" to test it. The 787 has a core network cabinet system on-board that includes multiple network modules that segregate and provide network interfaces among the sensitive avionics network, the passenger information and in-flight entertainment system, and the aircraft maintenance system used by engineers, crew, and airline employees. Boeing's 787 models come with various communications channels, including satellite devices and wireless connections for when the plane lands and connects to GateLink, an airline network that downloads information about the plane's arrival; it's also used by airlines or vendors to push firmware updates to the plane's network components, for example. The planes also have a wired port for maintenance operations while parked at the airport. An attacker could hack into the network via the Internet or another network link to the plane, such as its wireless terminal that connects the plane to the airline's wireless network, Santamarta says. Another possible attack could sabotage maintenance systems by running rogue tests or giving the maintenance engineer false information about a system function. Santamarta also spotted two cases where proxy servers used by airlines to communicate with their 787 aircrafts on the ground via GateLink were exposed on the public Internet. "So it was possible to compromise those servers," which could allow an attacker to reach the plane's network over the Internet, he says. But Santamarta is careful to emphasize that he didn't perform any live tests against a 787 aircraft: All of his research was conducted in a lab setting. "These airport networks are exposed on the Internet. We analyzed those systems and networks, but at a very high level, and didn't perform any aggressive testing," he notes. At the heart of the firmware issue, according to Santamarta, is that the Honeywell firmware was based on a version of VxWorks that was not certified for use in avionics. That left the systems vulnerable to flaws that then could be used to wage an attack on sensitive avionics systems, he says. Just how much damage or danger an attacker could execute remains unknown without actually hacking a 787, he says. "We don't have a 787. Basically, you need a 787 to determine the impact of these vulnerabilities," he says. "We know they can be exploited; we don't know what we can do after exploiting those vulnerabilities." Boeing Pushes Back IOActive's Sheehy helped coordinate the firmware vulnerability disclosure process with Boeing, which he says removed the exposed firmware files within 24 hours of IOActive alerting them about finding the server online. Once Santamarta had identified the Honeywell device on the Boeing network, IOActive then worked with the vendor to study and troubleshoot the vulnerabilities. Sheehy says IOActive, Boeing, and Honeywell since have been meeting weekly about the issues. But Boeing disputes IOActive's research conclusions. "IOActive reviewed only one part of the 787 network using rudimentary tools, and had no access to the larger system or working environments," Boeing said in a statement provided to Dark Reading. "IOActive chose to ignore our verified results and limitations in its research, and instead made provocative statements as if they had access to and analyzed the working system. While we appreciate responsible engagement from independent cybersecurity researchers, we're disappointed in IOActive's irresponsible presentation." The Boeing 787 core network security controls includes IP table-filtering in the Ethernet gateway module of the core network, where different rules determine which traffic goes from the open data network to the internal data network, for example. The aircraft also runs a firewall packet-filtering function based on a VxWorks library and employs system rules in the network interface module that help isolate the networks, Santamarta says. Santamarta says that both Boeing and Honeywell confirmed the flaws in the 787 firmware. "However, Boeing did not share with IOActive the version of the CIS/MS firmware they were using in their testing, despite the fact that this information was requested several times. So technically, all of the 787 currently in production contain the vulnerabilities, but Boeing denies those vulnerabilities are exploitable," he says. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, which has been plagued with manufacturing quality control and safety issues since it first went live in 2013, remains one of the most electronic-enabled and networked airplanes. https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities---threats/boeing-787-on-board-network-vulnerable-to-remote-hacking-researcher-says/d/d-id/1335463 Back to Top Sky's the Limit: Semmco Wins Contract with JetBlue Airways Semmco Inc. a US manufacturing base in Arlington, Texas, is pleased to announce its contract with JetBlue, a major carrier in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. Semmco Inc. will be supplying access platforms and ground support equipment to JetBlue line stations across the U.S. The contract will be delivered over the next 12 months and represents Semmco's first major order since opening its U.S. office and manufacturing facility in Jan. Semmco's bid proved successful in the competitive contract process and was recognized for its complete range of equipment and capabilities for the Airbus A320 family. Semmco's equipment is designed by engineers for engineers and offers new innovations in aviation maintenance for the American market. In Jun., Semmco delivered eight access platforms to its first line station in Palm Beach, Florida. This forms part of the total order of 151 units that Semmco will be providing to 11 line stations in states across America, including California, Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Stuart McOnie, managing director at Semmco, commented; "We are absolutely delighted to have secured this major contract with one of America's leading airlines and look forward to working with the JetBlue team to deliver the project in the coming months." Stuart continued; "It is another proud milestone for us and a testament to our US team, who are successfully delivering the project and further developing our global customer base." Discussing the new American office and manufacturing facility, Stuart said; "In the last few years we have been inundated with requests from North American companies, and it made sense to expand the business and open a new facility in the region. Our US facility will help us to meet growing demand and grow our customer relationships, supporting their aircraft maintenance and access needs." https://www.aviationpros.com/tools-equipment/shop-equipment/man-lifts-platforms-work-stands/press-release/21091767/semmco-inc-skys-the-limit-semmco-wins-contract-with-jetblue-airways Back to Top Airbus Helicopters opens completion and delivery centre in Malaysia Airbus has expanded its rotor operations in Asia with the recent opening of a regional helicopter completion and delivery centre (CDC) at its Subang facility in Malaysia. The new CDC will see Airbus' new helicopters for customers in the Southeast Asia region being completed in, and delivered from the new centre, consolidating Malaysia's role as Airbus' regional hub for helicopter services, customer support and full-flight simulator training. Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke officially opened the regional centre on Tuesday 6 August. Speaking at the ceremony, Raymond Lim, head of Airbus in Malaysia, said: "The move to set up a regional helicopter completion and delivery centre in Malaysia fully demonstrates Airbus' unwavering commitment to the country's aerospace industry, in particular the promotion of Malaysia's growing industrial footprint across all areas of our business. This expansion is part of our growth plan for the region, and will enable us to provide the best possible end-to-end support to our customers in this fast-growing region, backed by our extensive range of helicopter services," he added. The new regional helicopter centre can accommodate up to four medium-sized helicopters at any one time. It is capable of assembling and delivering up to 20 helicopters per year from across all its rotorcraft models. In addition to the new completion and delivery centre, the company has also expanded its full motion full-flight simulation centre with the addition of a Dauphin AS365 N3/N3+ simulator to its existing H225/H225M simulator. With two simulators in place, training of pilots and crew from customers in the military, para-public and civil sectors through the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, can now take place in Malaysia. Located 25 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur, Airbus Helicopters' Malaysia facility spans more than 10,000 square metres. The facility can provide a broad spectrum of services from scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, aircraft modifications, aircraft completion and delivery, material management and technical support. Airbus Helicopters has a team of over 100 personnel, supporting operations in Malaysia and the region. The expansion of the facility at Subang further extends Airbus presence in Malaysia. Airbus is the largest international partner for the Malaysian aerospace industry, with its sourcing and services businesses in the country worth US$400 million annually for the local economy. The company's activities currently sustain employment for over 4,000 Malaysians in the country's fast-growing aviation sector. Malaysian companies supply parts for a wide range of Airbus programmes, including the A320 Family, A330neo, A350 XWB, A380 and A400M. In addition to the regional helicopters centre, Airbus operates a Customer Services Centre at Sepang offering specialised aircraft modification and design services. The company also through its fully-owned Sepang Aircraft Engineering offers maintenance, repair and overhaul for A320 Family and ATR series of aircraft. https://asianaviation.com/airbus-helicopters-opens-completion-and-delivery-centre-in-malaysia/ Back to Top New Advanced-Technology Diesel Engines Playing Greater Role in General, Business Aviation Ground Service Equipment and Fixed Base Operations Alongside increasing demand for business and general aviation services, investments are also growing in new ground service equipment being introduced by fixed base operators (FBOs) to service and maintain the nation's growing aircraft fleet. This means the newest generation of advanced-technology diesel engines are present in growing in numbers on airport tarmacs across the nation. At every airport in the U.S., FBOs use fueling trucks, tug and tow tractors, and other service vehicles to provide essential fueling and aircraft marshaling and maintenance services for general and business aviation aircraft. Many of these vehicles are powered by diesel engines, relying on the power, performance, reliability, durability and economical operation offered by diesel technologies. Many of these ground service units have been in continuous use for decades, due to their relatively low miles and limited operational area, the airfield and surrounding ramp operations. These vehicles and equipment offer performance optimized to reduce emissions and improve air quality for ground service operators and other airport personnel. Beginning in 2011, all new commercial on-road vehicles and subsequently in 2014 almost all new offroad engines and equipment - including ground service vehicles and marshalling equipment - utilize new diesel emissions control systems. This technology, known as selective catalytic reduction systems (SCR), enables the vehicle or equipment to achieve near-zero emissions performance and meet emissions requirements established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These active emissions control systems require the periodic replenishment with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), a form of aqueous urea. Replacement of DEF is done based on the vehicle hours used or miles driven. DEF is widely available across the United States in a variety of packaging and dispensing options including gallon jugs and boxes at common retail outlets, service stations and automotive supply stores, as well as in drums and other portable containers as well as above ground storage and dispensing units for fleet services. Training, Education, Labeling Best-Practices to Ensure Proper Use of DEF As the latest diesel-powered vehicles and ground service equipment enter the fleet, it is an appropriate time to review basic education and training for ground-service equipment operators, particularly those that fuel aircraft and vehicles, on how to properly use, handle and store DEF. Several isolated incidents have been reported involving the accidental mixing of DEF and other aviation fluids. DEF can be mistaken for other clear, colorless liquids, such as fuel system icing inhibitors (FSII). Both products can be purchased in bulk and transferred to smaller containers for ease of use. Both are usually stored in milky white containers. Also, airport refueling trucks are serviced with both products. To ensure against the accidental introduction of DEF into any aircraft fuel, we recommend that FBO's follow the NTSB safety bulletin, and work with diesel engine and equipment dealers and their fuel suppliers to understand the proper use and storage of DEF. FBOs should also institute ongoing training, labeling and storage practices to help ensure aviation safety. The work done by the Aircraft Diesel Exhaust Fluid Working Group and their report in June has contributed a substantial understanding to the issue, and offers strong short- and long-term recommendations. Since its first introduction into the U.S. vehicle fleet in 2010, DEF producers, distributors and dealers have worked together to develop and implement quality programs, including effective storage and dispensing practices, at thousands of locations across the country. In 2018, about 800 million gallons of DEF were produced, according to industry sources. SCR systems utilizing diesel exhaust fluid were successfully introduced nearly nine years ago into the U.S. on-highway vehicle fleet, and have enabled the newest generation of diesel engines and equipment to achieve remarkable reductions in exhaust emissions, while also scoring gains in fuel efficiency. Airport operations will benefit from dramatically lower emissions from the ground service fleet when putting new diesel technology into service. https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/press-release/21091552/diesel-technology-forum-new-advancedtechnology-diesel-engines-playing-greater-role-in-general-business-aviation-ground-service-equipment-and-fixed-base-operations Back to Top Republic Airways Expands Operations With Delta Air Lines Airline adds Boston and Louisville as crew and maintenance hubs In concert with its 45th anniversary this month, Republic announced it is expanding its partnership with Delta Air Lines. The agreement adds 30 Embraer 175 E-Jet aircraft to the airline's fleet and further expands Republic's leadership position as the world's largest E-Jet operator with over 220 aircraft. The first aircraft will be delivered in October 2019, and deliveries will continue through July 2020. Republic currently operates approximately 38 aircraft for Delta and expects the expansion to increase its scheduled daily operations for Delta by more than 75 percent. "Our partnership with Delta is a vital part of our business, and we're excited by the opportunity to expand our relationship with Delta and continue to serve its customers," said Bryan Bedford, Republic Airways president and chief executive officer. "Over the last several years, our team - flight attendants, mechanics, pilots, dispatchers, associates in every department - has been working hard to position us for growth and to enable us to respond to the needs of our codeshare partners. Their hard work is the reason we can make this announcement today." The operational expansion will lead to the opening of two new bases within Republic's network, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF). Republic currently has maintenance operations in Louisville and will add its crew base in December. Boston, also opening in December, will operate as a crew and maintenance base, with positions open for hire now. Republic currently has 13 crew and maintenance base locations across the Midwest and East Coast. Republic currently employs more than 6,000 associates and is the second largest regional airline in the country. The airline traces its origins to Chautauqua Airlines and its first flights on August 1, 1974, from Jamestown, NY, employing two Beechcraft 99 aircraft. About Republic: Founded in 1974, Republic Airways is one of the largest regional airlines in the U.S. Republic operates a fleet of nearly 200 Embraer 170/175 aircraft and offers scheduled passenger service with about 1,000 daily flights to 100 cities in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Central America. The airline provides fixed-fee flights operated under its codeshare partners' brands: American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express. The airline employs more than 6,000 aviation professionals. Learn more at www.rjet.com. In May 2018, Republic opened the Leadership In Flight Training (LIFT) Academy, a commercial aviation pilot training school in Indianapolis. LIFT uses state-of-the-art training technologies that combine flight, flight simulator, online and in-classroom training. Graduates are guaranteed a job as a First Officer at Republic. Learn more at www.flywithlift.com. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/republic-airways-expands-operations-delta-133000395.html Back to Top Industry remains optimistic about the future of LABACE Exhibitor space is nearly sold out for LABACE, the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition, taking place from August 13 to 15 at São Paulo's Congonhas airport in Brazil. Several of last year's innovations will be kept and expanded, including a tented area for rotary-wing static display. While Gulfstream closed its Sorocaba MRO facility in February, it's still exhibiting aircraft at LABACE. Most of the major business and GA manufacturers are expected to exhibit. And Bombardier's authorized maintenance facility Maga should again bring its customized bus with customer lounge in front and hoist capable of removing an engine at the back. The political and economic stability expected when President Jair Bolsonaro was elected has so far remained just a promise, and investors are waiting for its fulfillment. In its first six months, the administration has been unable to pass a reform of the perpetually deficit-ridden public pension system, one of the structural causes of astonishingly expensive credit, and a barrier to growth. Several key officials have left or been pushed out. The World Bank's forecast annual GDP growth for Brazil was cut in June to 1.5 percent, from 2.2 percent in January. Despite political turbulence, there are strong structural factors that have led Brazil to building the world's second largest civil aviation fleet. The country and the aviation market have pockets of prosperity, such as agricultural producers whose products are priced in dollars and whose need for transportation from distant farms remains unchanged. Regulator ANAC, which aviation veterans have berated since its creation for its staff's inexperience (hardly surprising in a newly created agency), has shown greater maturity and sensitivity. In an April meeting across from Congonhas Airport, industry representatives were asked not only how the agency could smooth importation of aircraft and parts, but how it could coordinate with other agencies, such as customs, that are involved in the process. Bureaucratic fiefdoms working at cross-purposes are a long-standing ill. For example, parts of the vast and, in part, roadless Amazon region rely on river and air transport, and air-taxi firms have been paid by health authorities for medical evacuations from uncertified airstrips; and then fined by aviation authorities for doing so. Congress and airspace control authorities have now made plans to improve radar and navigational aids; and to certify more airports in the region. Another cloud on the political horizon is that the fight against corruption, symbolized by judge Sergio Moro, who cleared Bolsonaro's path to the presidency by jailing his chief rival, and was then made Minister of Justice, is being corroded by Glenn Greenwald (of the Snowden leaks). He continues to publish increasingly embarrassingly promiscuous messages between prosecutors and the then-judge that challenge Moro's impartiality. The Brazilian real remains weak, and dollar-priced products, including aircraft, remain expensive. The country's fourth-largest airline, Avianca Brasil, was driven into bankruptcy by rising dollar-valued costs, a poorly timed international expansion, problems in its controllers' other businesses, and weakened market demand. Uncertainty faces the Brazilian aviation industry, with Embraer's regional aircraft operations becoming Boeing Brasil Commercial by year-end. That leaves a smaller Embraer made up of the defense, business jet, agricultural, and service operations, along with the "disruptive" Embraer-X. Embraer is leaving a market it had conquered and where it is just launching the last member of its E2 family. It's also leaving behind the facilities in São José dos Campos where it was founded but was running out of space, and is phasing out the Legacy family of business jets, adapted from regional jets. Business jet finishing is going to Melbourne, Florida; heavy manufacturing of the Phenom is already upstate in Botucatu, and the more highly roboticized Praetor line is moving to join the KC-390 and the future Gripen production in partnership with Saab. The established, more labor-intensive Super Tucano, at Embraer's Gavião Peixoto plant, has unrestricted room to grow. It also has the Western Hemisphere's longest paved runway, perhaps a sign that Embraer retains unrestricted room to dream. LABACE also faces inevitable changes. Moving the fair from Congonhas is discussed almost annually, both because of the cramped and crumbling facilities of the former VASP base and the annual contract negotiations with airport administrator Infraero, which invariably encounter some snag that leaves too little planning time for fair manager ABAG and for exhibitors. The real estate the fair used to occupy has now been leased out for retail development, so LABACE must move. Among other possibilities, ABAG had explored a five-year contract at Campo de Marte airport, closer to the city center than Congonhas, but farther from the fashionable business district, and probably requiring a change of hotels for exhibitors. The business aviation market may gravitate toward the agricultural Central-West and embrace a more welcoming Amazon and may tilt toward more utilitarian aircraft, and LABACE may move across town. The market remains one of the world's largest, and while decisions may be waiting on the political weather, the national climate has always been optimistic. The weak real means visitors' dollars go further, and the Bolsonaro administration has dropped the need for a visa for U.S. visitors. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-08-07/industry-remains-optimistic-about-future-labace Back to Top Frontier Airlines Operates America's Greenest Flight Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines kicks off Green Week and operates America's Greenest Flight, highlighting the airline's commitment to fuel efficiency and focus on sustainability. Denver, Aug. 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines kicks off Green Week and operates America's Greenest Flight, highlighting the airline's commitment to fuel efficiency and focus on sustainability. The flight will operate from Denver to GREEN-ville, S.C. utilizing one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in the world, the A320neo, which is a significant contributor to Frontier operating the most fuel-efficient fleet in the U.S. For the next week, Frontier will be encouraging others to live greener with sustainable giveaways and invites everyone with the last name "Green" to fly for free on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. For more details and to enter to win, visit: http://bit.ly/F9GreenWeek Today's greenest flight is focused on sustainability on every level. Service items utilized include compostable cold cups, hot cups and napkins made from recycled materials and bamboo stir sticks. Customers will enjoy snacks utilizing eco-friendly packaging and cans, bottles, paper and plastic will be separated and recycled. To further lessen the environmental impact, Frontier is planting enough trees to offset the flight's carbon footprint. In addition, all passengers onboard America's Greenest Flight will receive "green inspired" gifts to encourage them think sustainably long after they have reached their destination. "Our fleet's fuel efficiency is unmatched by other U.S. airlines and allows Frontier to deliver not only the lowest fares but the most sustainable approach to flying," said Barry Biffle, President and CEO of Frontier Airlines. "We are proud to serve communities across the U.S. and understand the importance of being good stewards of the environment. We're focused on lessening Frontier's impact on the environment and continually search for innovative solutions and technology to achieve that." Frontier exclusively operates the A320 family of aircraft and has the largest A320neo fleet in the U.S., delivering the highest level of noise reduction and fuel-efficiency, compared to previous models. The use of these aircraft, Frontier's seating configuration, weight-saving tactics and baggage process have all contributed to the airline's average of 39% fuel savings compared to other U.S. airlines (fuel savings is based on Frontier Airlines 2018 fuel consumption per seat-mile compared to the weighted average of major U.S. airlines). There are many ways to think about Frontier's fuel savings, for example: it's the equivalent of the carbon used to produce 359 billion straws, or the fuel used to make 15.2 billion plastic bottles, or the greenhouse gas emissions from 192,000 cars on the road for one year. Added up, that's an average of 19 barrels of oil saved for every flight completed by Frontier and 102 million gallons of fuel saved in 2018 alone. Frontier began its green journey in 2013 and has progressively introduced new, innovative technology and solutions to reduce its carbon impact. In 2013, Frontier added sharklets to its aircraft, a wingtip that increases the fuel efficiency of Airbus aircraft by 4%, equaling an annual CO2 reduction of 700 tons per aircraft. That same year, Frontier unbundled flight services, putting passengers in charge and reducing the number of carry-on bags on-board each aircraft and weight from snacks and drinks. In 2014, Frontier switched to paperless cockpits, utilizing Electronic Flight Bags and removing in-flight magazines, saving weight and thousands of pounds of paper. In 2015, Frontier introduced new, modern seats throughout its fleet and removed heavy televisions from its seatbacks, allowing for higher seating capacity and weight savings. In addition, the Frontier mobile application was introduced, conveying real-time information to passengers without having to print out documents. In 2016, Frontier marked its biggest advance in fuel-efficiency yet, the introduction of A320neo aircraft to its fleet. These aircraft are equipped with next generation engine technology, delivering significant fuel savings and a 50% reduction in noise footprint as compared to the previous generation. In 2017, the Frontier team moved into a state-of-the-art LEED-Certified HQ building, designed and built to meet the highest energy savings, water efficiency and CO2 emissions standards. In 2018, 18 new aircraft were added to the Frontier fleet (16 A320neo, 2 A321ceo). By the end of 2018, our fleet was comprised of 39% aircraft with new engine technology designed to deliver optimal fuel efficiency. In 2019, Frontier introduced biodegradable cups in-flight and plans to remove plastic drink stirrers and replace them with wooden ones. By the end of the year, over half of Frontier's fleet will be made up of A320neo aircraft, an accomplishment unmatched by other U.S. airlines. In 2020 and beyond, Frontier has more than 170 NEO aircraft on order and continues to search out new technologies and solutions that will enhance its operation and customer experience. For more information and to follow Frontier's green progress, please visit FlyGreener.com. About Frontier Airlines: Frontier Airlines is committed to delivering 'Low Fares Done Right' to over 100 cities in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic and Mexico on 400 daily flights. Headquartered in Denver, Frontier Airlines is the proud recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration's 2018 Diamond Award for maintenance excellence and was named one of the industry's most fuel-efficient airlines by The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) as a result of superior technology and operational efficiencies. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/frontier-airlines-operates-americas-greenest-162700944.html Back to Top Corrosion alert follows improper A340 centre-gear overhaul Certain Airbus A340-500 and -600 operators are set to be ordered to replace centre landing-gear axles on the type after concerns that a batch underwent improper maintenance treatment. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency says corrosion was discovered on an axle in the wheel interface area during an overhaul. It states that the most likely cause is "non-systematic stripping of chrome" during the overhaul and "insufficient" non-destructive testing. EASA says it has identified a specific batch of affected parts which has been subjected to the "inappropriate" process. The aircraft involved comprise 13 A340s with serial numbers between 606 and 761. Manufacturer Safran has drawn up replacement instructions. The regulator says the condition could potentially result in axle failure on the type. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/corrosion-alert-follows-improper-a340-centre-gear-ov-460139/ Back to Top SpaceX Says It Will Offer Regular Rideshare Missions To Space For Small Satellites SpaceX announced yesterday Monday, August 5 that it will begin a new SmallSat Rideshare Program in the next two years, offering a launch mass of 150 kilograms for just $2.25 million per mission. In the announcement yesterday, the company said it would begin Falcon 9 launches from either late 2020 or early 2021 until at least 2023 that would launch multiple small spacecraft into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). The launches will take place from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. If customers sign up more than 12 months before the launch they will be eligible for the aforementioned cost of $2.25 million for 150 kilograms, a cost of $15,000 per kilogram. If they sign up after, up to six months before the launch, they'll be given a price of $3 million for 150 kilograms at $20,000 per kilogram. "Unlike traditional rideshare opportunities, these missions will not be dependent on a primary," SpaceX said in a statement, which means the spacecraft will not have to fly as secondary payloads on someone else's mission. "These missions will be pre-scheduled and will not be held up by delays with co-passengers." They also noted that if a satellite ran into problems with development or production challenges leading up to launch, SpaceX would allow them to book onto another mission, although it added that "rebooking fees may apply". While the fees of $15,000 per kilogram are considerably higher than launching as a secondary payload on a Falcon 9 rocket, they are less than SpaceX's competitors. A regular Falcon 9 launch, at $57 million per launch, carries a price tag of about $3,000 per kilogram - but as a secondary payload, small satellites are often deployed into less than desirable orbits. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2019/08/06/spacex-says-it-will-offer-regular-rideshare-missions-to-space-for-small-satellites/#3e4609b014ba Curt Lewis